Tun Hajah Rahah binti Mohamed Noah (Jawi: راحة بنت محمد نوح; 11 June 1933 – 18 December 2020) was the wife of the second Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein (1922–1976) and the mother of sixth Prime Minister Najib Razak. She was the daughter of Mohamed Noah Omar (1898–1991), first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and also third President of the Dewan Negara.
Rahah Mohamed Noah | |
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راحة محمد نوح | |
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Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia | |
In role 22 September 1970 – 14 January 1976 | |
Monarchs | Abdul Halim Yahya Petra |
Prime Minister | Abdul Razak Hussein |
Preceded by | Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah |
Succeeded by | Suhailah Noah |
Spouse of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia | |
In role 31 August 1957 – 22 September 1970 | |
Monarchs | Abdul Rahman Hishamuddin Syed Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim |
Prime Minister | Tunku Abdul Rahman |
Deputy | Abdul Razak Hussein |
Succeeded by | Norashikin Mohd Seth |
Personal details | |
Born | Muar, Johor, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia) | 11 June 1933
Died | 18 December 2020 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | (aged 87)
Resting place | Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur |
Spouse | |
Children | 5 (including Najib Razak and Nazir Razak) |
Parents |
|
Relatives | Nazifuddin Najib (grandson) Suhailah Noah (sister) Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (affinal) Nizar Najib (grandson) |
Biography
editRahah was born on 11 June 1933 in Muar, Johor. She was the youngest of Mohamed Noah Omar's ten children. While attending secondary school in Johor Bahru, Rahah was introduced to Abdul Razak Hussein, by then already an active member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), by Taib Andak, a friend of Abdul Razak while studying in London. They married on 4 September 1952.[1]
Abdul Razak became the second Prime Minister of Malaysia in 1970. As the prime minister's spouse, she served as President of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia and patron of the Muslim Women's Action Organisation (Pertiwi).[1] In 1976, Razak died in office, leaving Rahah widowed at the relatively young age of 43.
She was the chancellor of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, the university founded in honour of her husband.[1] Since Abdul Razak was the prime minister who established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, all PRC ambassadors made a courtesy call on Rahah upon arriving in Malaysia.[2]
In an interview conducted in 2011, Rahah said she spent most of her time attending religious classes with friends.[3]
Death
editTun Rahah died on 18 December 2020 at the Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur following a short illness, at the age of 87.[4][5][6][7] Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad described Tun Rahah as among the last from the independence generation who contributed invaluable services and sacrifices to the country.[8] Mahathir was among the national leaders and acquaintances present to pay their last respects to Tun Rahah.[9][10]
She was laid to rest at the Makam Pahlawan (Heroes' Mausoleum) near Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur beside the grave of her sister Tun Suhailah Mohamed Noah, widow of third Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn, who died on 4 October 2014.[11][12][13]
Family
editAbdul Razak and Rahah had five children:[1]
- Najib Razak (born 1953), the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia. In 2020, Najib was convicted of corruption in relation to the 1MDB scandal during his premiership.[14]
- Ahmad Johari (born 1955)
- Mohd Nizam (born 1957), the son-in-law to former Chief Minister from 1970 to 1981 as well as Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from 1981 to 1986, Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, being married to one of his daughters, Khadijah.
- Mohd Nazim (born 1963), businessman cum husband to former tv presenter and AIDIJUMA entrepreneur, Norjuma Habib Mohammed.[15]
- Mohd Nazir (born 1965), the former chief executive of CIMB, one of the largest financial services companies in South-East Asia.
Rahah's sister, Suhailah, was married to Abdul Razak's successor as prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn.[16]
Honours
editHonours of Malaysia
edit- Malaysia :
- Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (1976)[17]
- Sarawak :
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri (2002)
- Pahang :
- Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (1973)[18]
- Sabah :
- Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (1974)[19]
Places named after her
editSeveral places were named after her, including:
- Taman Tun Rahah, Bukit Katil, Malacca
- Dewan Besar Tun Rahah, Kuala Lumpur
- Masjid Ar-Rahah, Kampung Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur
- SMKA Tun Hajah Rahah, Sabak Bernam, Selangor
In popular culture
editRahah has been portrayed in a documentary, theater and films. She was portrayed by Fauziah Latiff in the theater Tun Razak Musical (2010) and a film played by Faezah Elai in Tanda Putera (2013).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Tun Rahah Noah". Ensiklopedia Bahasa Malaysia. JBDirectory. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- ^ "Malaysian PM's visit seeks more "vertical development" in ties with China". BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political. 1 June 2009.
- ^ "Najib's an obedient child, always listen to advice – Tun Rahah". Bernama. 10 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- ^ "Najib's mum Tun Rahah passes away at age 87". The Star. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Tun Rahah dies". New Straits Times. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Tun Rahah meninggal dunia pada usia 87 tahun". Bernama (in Malay). 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Tun Rahah meninggal dunia". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Tun Rahah's demise prompts outpouring tributes". The Malaysian Reserve. 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Dr M pays last respect to Najib's mother". Malaysiakini. 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Death of Tun Rahah: Dr Mahathir, Mukhriz arrive at Ar-Rahah Mosque". New Straits Times. 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Tun Rahah laid to rest at Heroes' Mausoleum". Bernama. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Tun Rahah laid to rest at National Heroes Mausoleum". New Straits Times. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Jenazah Tun Rahah selamat dikebumikan". Harian Metro (in Malay). 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Najib Razak: Malaysian ex-PM gets 12-year jail term in 1MDB corruption trial". BBC News. 28 July 2020.
- ^ "Nazim to wed former Nona host Norjuma".
- ^ "Najib's three beloved 'swans'". The Malaysian Insider. 31 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 August 2010.
- ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1976" (PDF).
- ^ Zainuddin Maidin (1997). Tun Razak : jejak bertapak seorang patriot. Kuala Lumpur: Lembaga Pemegang Amanah, Yayasan Tun Razak. p. 320. ISBN 967-61-0751-4. OCLC 38048384.
- ^ "Hussein and Rahah get top Sabah awards". New Straits Times. 14 September 1974. p. 1.